Processes and trends of circulation within the Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program study area

Date

1997

Authors

Ward, George H.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

Abstract

The prime objective of this study is characterization of the spatial variation and temporal trends of estuarine circulation within the Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program (CCBNEP) study area, using an approach of inferring the nature of circulation and transport processes from a hydrographic history of the Corpus Christi Bay system. The CCBNEP study area includes three of the seven major estuary systems of the Texas Gulf Coast. These estuaries, the Aransas, Corpus Christi, and Upper Laguna Madre are shallow and biologicall productive. Although connected, the estuaries are biogeographically distinct and increase in salinity from north to south. The Laguna Madre is unusual in being only one of three hypersaline lagoon systems in the world. The study area is bouded on its eastern edge by a series of barrier islands, including the world's longest -- Padre Island.

Description

1 volume

Keywords

Oceanography, texas, gulf coast, ocean circulation, corpus christi

Citation